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The East Park site has been marked for development for the University’s use since the 1970s, and outline plans that would see 11 tower blocks, ranging from three to eight storeys high, and a total of 1,182 bedrooms built had already been approved.

East Park plans

Works are due to commence in early 2019 with the new accommodation set to open in two phases from September 2020 and September 2021.

Phase 1 will comprise of constructing seven tower blocks, buildings A to D and G to J, totalling 604 beds.

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Latest stories from the courts in exeter

Plans to demolish the Exeter Auto Centre and replace it with 114 student flats have been approved at the second time of asking – despite councillors still not liking the design.

New design: Summerland Street student development

The scheme for Summerland Street was initially rejected in July as ‘the appearance and shape of the proposed development relate poorly to the first phase of the development and as such, the proposals are considered not to be visually attractive or good design.’

But developers Deltic resubmitted their plans with a flat roof instead and council planners approved the application at the second time of asking.

CITY ARCADE

A large student flats and shops development, which would see the demolition of a shopping arcade in Exeter’s independent shopping quarter, has been approved.

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Exeter City Council planners said yes in June for a bid for 55 ‘high quality’ student studios to be built over four floors on the site of the City Arcade in Fore Street.

Artist impression of the proposed student flats plan for the City Arcade in Fore Street

A retail unit/café would be retained on the ground floor facing Fore Street, but would be significantly reduced from the existing City Arcade, dropping from 568 sq metres to 80 sq metres, and it is expected that an independent trader would be the occupier.

GLENTHORNE ROAD

Plans for a major new student flats development next to the University of Exeter have been approved, despite concerns it would subject nearby residents to ‘irreversible, abject misery’.

Hines, a real-estate giant based in Luxembourg, wanted to build a four storey student flats block for 244 students on land at Glenthorne Road, next to the family run Dennyshill Care Home.

Aerial CGI showing new Glenthorne Road student flats development

Objections had poured in against the scheme, including from the Duryard Trust who own the private road leading to the development site, residents of Glenthorne Road, and for the first time ever, the University of Exeter itself.

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More from Newton Abbot

East Devon District Council’s current headquarters will be turned into a 113-apartment assisted-living community.

In 2015, the council decided to relocate from its current headquarters at the Knowle in Sidmouth to new offices in Honiton and Exmouth. And to finance the move, the council agreed to sell its Knowle headquarters to Pegasus Life Ltd for £7.5million.

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But those plans were thrown into jeopardy when a planning application by Pegasus Life for a 113-apartment assisted-living community for older people was refused by the council’s planning committee.

Planning inspector Michael Boniface in January allowed the appeal.

It means that the Knowle will be turned into an assisted living community for older people, comprising of extra care units, staff accommodation and communal facilities, including a kitchen, restaurant, bar, café, a well-being suite, a gym, treatment rooms and pool, comprehensive landscaping and groundworks.

Artist impression of the new East Devon District Council HQ in Honiton

The council will move into its Honiton HQ in early 2019

WEST EXE PARK

More than 1,500 new jobs are in the pipeline for Exeter after controversial plans for a massive industrial development was given the go-ahead.

Exeter Estates Ltd, led by Exeter Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe, wanted permission for a 47,000 sqm employment development at Peamore – around the size of eight football pitches – known locally as the old Frank Tucker’s garage, between Exminster and Kennford at West Exe Park, Alphington.

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Councillors in Teignbridge back in February voted by seven votes to six, with two abstentions, to approve the application.

Ian MacLean from Exeter Estates said: “The site can provide up to 1,500 new jobs, across a range of uses, and we will make land available for a slip road onto the A38 as well.

The West Exe Park business park plan

“This will provide a valuable boost to the area and as there is a lack of employment land being delivered in the Greater Exeter Area and in the Teignbridge Local Plan, we are fielding constant enquires from people enquiring about the site.

“These are local jobs for local people and this represents a genuine scheme to benefit the economy of the area.”

Places to go, things to drink and eat

The same Teignbridge planning meeting saw Aldi’s plans for a new store in Newton Abbot, which would see the demolition of a historic Victorian carriage and repair shed, approved.

Artist impression of the new Newton Abbot Aldi

The budget supermarket giant’s application also included outline plans for additional land to be developed for small business units, which will be handed over free of charge to Teignbridge District Council, and around 50 new jobs.

Planners voted to approve the scheme that would see the proposed outlet would have comprised a 1,140 sq m (net) foodstore with 99 car parking spaces, as well as small units for employment by 14 votes to four.

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The historic shed was destroyed in a blaze at the end of October, but Aldi still hope to open their new store in 2019.

QUEEN’S DRIVE SPACE

East Devon District Council’s planning committee in March gave the go-ahead for a new and free dinosaur-themed play space on Queen’s Drive. The park sat alongside a range of other temporary uses – including food, drink and events and a big screen, on the site of the former Fun Park for this summer.

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And they also approved plans for the 28-metre-high big wheel to return to the town on land opposite the Pavilion Gardens, in Esplanade, for the next two summers.

The new dinosaur-themed play park on Queen's Drive on Exmouth seafront (Image: Daniel Clark)

The approved application saw the former Fun Park be turned into three zones. A food and drink area which would form an outside bar and seating area with temporary retail/catering stalls, a children’s play area with associated equipment and an events space that would host a number of outside events organised by a dedicated events manager, that includes a big screen. The existing boating ponds on site would be filled.

Plans for the Queen’s Drive space to return in 2019, 2020 and 2021, have been submitted and are awaiting determination.

LYNTON RAIL LINK

The controversial first phase of a multi-million pound rail link between Lynton and Barnstaple, which will pass within a few feet of the house in which Lorna Doone was written, was given the green light in March.

The first phase will see the reinstatement of 3.5 miles of track which would lead from the end of the existing line at Killington Lane to the north of Parracombe, to Blackmoor Gate, and under the A399 and then outside the Exmoor National Park towards Wistlandpound Reservoir.

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Exmoor National Park Authority gave the go-ahead to the first phase of the proposed rail link, between Killington Lane and Wistlandpound Reservoir

The application is the first of three further phases which are planned to complete the full reinstatement of the railway from Lynton to Barnstaple and is set to have £10m a year of benefits to the economy.

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East Devon District Council’s Development Management Committee in July gave a reluctant thumbs-up to the scheme, despite serious concerns raised about the access to the site on Dinan Way and the ‘disgusting’ number of affordable homes that would be provided and objections from Exmouth and Lympstone councils, local ward councillors, Devon County Council and residents.

SHERFORD

Major changes to the way that the new town of Sherford will be developed and built have been approved.

Up to 5,500 new homes will be built over the next 20 years on land south of Deep Lane on the A38, between Plympton and Elburton.

The new Sherford masterplan

At present 140 homes are currently occupied and work to build a further 340 has begun, while Sherford Vale Primary School opened in September and work on the new direct access road to Sherford from the A38 will start in January.

South Hams District Council’s Development Management Committee in October agreed to amend the masterplan for the Sherford development which will provide an alternative structure and configuration of how the new community will be developed.

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The key changes will see the proposes business park located entirely in the north-east of the site, closer to the Deep Lane junction, extending the eastern neighbourhood further to the south east of the site into an area which was previously part of the Community Park near Blackpool, removal of the southern neighbourhood ‘mini-centre’ that was a feature of the old masterplan proposals, and shifting the location of the new 219 hectare Community Park that will wrap around the southern boundary of the site.

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There was standing room only in Phoenix House’s Exe Room on Wednesday, December 5 as dozens gathered to support the application for the new store on land on the Foundry Estate off Blundell’s Road.

Officers from the Council’s planning team had previously recommended the plans be approved and members voted unanimously to approve the plans.

How the store in Tiverton could look

As part of the submission, Lidl has put forward plans to demolish two existing buildings on the site and replace them with a food store of 2125 sqm and a non-food store of 1964sq m, along with landscaping and parking for 190 cars.

The store will open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm and 10:00 am until 4:00 pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

EXMINSTER

The final agreement on a massive homes plan – the biggest ever made by Teignbridge Council planners – has now finally been signed off.

Back in January 2017, the scheme for land near the Devon Hotel, spanning 90 hectares of land between Alphington Village and Exminster, was given the go-ahead.

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Mid Devon up-to-date

Plans for 257 new homes, a new primary school, and the relocation of Crediton rugby club were given the go ahead.

Mid Devon District Council planners approved the Gleeson Strategic Land proposals for land at Creedy Bridge.

Creedy Bridge masterplan

The outline application includes 8.6 hectares of land for a new club house and replacement and additional sports pitches for Crediton Rugby Club, up to 1.1 hectares of land for a new primary school, and up to five pitches for the Gypsy and Traveller community.

Financial contributions of around £2million for local education, transport and healthcare will also be provided, while 56 of the 257 homes will be affordable.

TORQUAY PAVILION PROJECT

The £32m plans for a high-rise hotel and apartment block on Torquay’s harbourside have been thrown out.

In February 2017, outline planning permission was granted by Torbay Council’s development management committee for an 11-storey block of apartments on the harbourside, with a four-to-five-storey hotel linked to the Pavilion building.

But the Save Cary Green and Torquay Pavilion campaign, fighting the scheme, challenged planning approval through a Judicial Review.

Torbay Council now say that they have carefully considered the facts presented by solicitors acting on behalf of the ‘Save Cary Green and Torquay Pavilion’ campaigns and, after taking legal advice, they have decided not to contest an anticipated challenge to the granting of planning permission for the Torquay Pavilion redevelopment.

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The plans, that had been approved, were for a change of use and restoration of the Pavilion to form a hotel reception and the construction of a four-to-five-storey, 60-bed hotel and an 11-storey block of 43 residential apartments.

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Councillors on the Torbay Council Development Management Committee in August heard the port needed the jetty to support the rapidly growing shellfish industry and would have £7.38m of economic benefits, and if not approved, could see vessels turned away from Brixham as there is no space for them to land.

Offshore Shellfish Ltd, operated by John and Nicki Holmyard, plan to scale up after a three-year pilot growing the shellfish on 940 hectares of open water in Lyme Bay, off Brixham. The jetty will increase capacity to process around 10,000 tonnes of mussels every year with sales reaching £15million.

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North Devon up-to-date

The final approval for a massive industrial park next to the Lidl depot on the edge of Exeter that could create around 1,800 jobs has been signed off.

Outline planning permission for the development of storage and distribution floor space was granted unanimously at an East Devon District Council meeting in September 2017, but the scheme was only given the final go-ahead last week after a travel plan was approved in June.

A massive industrial park next to the Lidl depot on the edge of Exeter has been given the go-ahead

The Church Commissioners For England, applied for permission for the massive development on land at Hayes Farm. The Church Commissioners say it could create between 1,530 and 1,817 new jobs and contribute an extra £90m to £105m to the regional economy.

East Devon council planners at the end of the October granted reserved matters approval for the first plot of land to be used for a storage and distribution building measuring 8,465sqpm, and the scheme also included associated parking, servicing, yard areas, landscaping and engineering works.

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South Hams up-to-date news

Permission has been granted to build a new mental health hospital next to a school and housing, despite fears raised over the safety of children and residents and the possible impact it will have on the local area.

Artist impression of new mental health hospital for Ribston Avenue in Exeter

The decision to build a 54-bed secure independent hospital on land at Ribston Avenue in Exeter Devon, was met with angry jeers from local residents who had hoped to persuade planners to oppose the controversial proposal.

However, members of Exeter City Council’s planning committee in December voted in favour of the application which received a total of 235 objections, including from the headteacher of St Nicholas Catholic Primary School who stated to allow the provision within such close proximity of the school would be “unacceptable”, and from Katie Hopkins.

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The Plan identifies a requirement for the provision of a minimum of 17,220 homes across northern Devon over the life of the Local Plan, along with the provision of a minimum of 85.1 hectares of land for economic development.

The Local Plan sets out how the vision will be delivered through a strategy of supporting, distributing and delivering sustainable development and growth.

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All the latest news from around Exeter

Planners have said NO to Sidford Business Park and turned down the controversial plans over a potentially lethal combination of narrow roads and increased heavy goods vehicle usage.

East Devon District Council planners rejected plans to build industrial, storage and non-residential institutions on agricultural land to the east of Two Bridges Road in Sidford.

Campaigners are delighted that EDDC has said NO to Sidford Business Park (Image: Daniel Clark)

They were refused in October on the grounds of harm to highway safety, relating to increased heavy goods vehicle usage of the area’s narrow roads and the decision was made by officers with the Chairman of Development Management Committee, Cllr Mike Howe, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

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The plans, by Fords of Sidmouth, have proven controversial in the village with over 250 submitted letters of objection, 1,400 residents signing the Say NO To Sidford Business Park Campaign petition objecting to the proposed Business Park, and signs and placards against the development all over the village.

MOOR EXCHANGE RETAIL PARK

Developers have slammed council planners who threw out a £40m scheme for a new retail park on the outskirts of Exeter – saying a major opportunity has been lost for the city.

Exeter City Council’s planning committee in August voted unanimously to turn down the plans – one of four proposed new retail parks in the east of the city.

Artist impression of the Moor Exchange retail park plans

Officers said that the Moor Exchange scheme, on land North of Honiton Road and West of Fitzroy Road, near the Sowton Industrial Estate, could create nearly 700 full time jobs, there would be £15 million of construction investment, and the significant economic benefits of the scheme and the moderate social benefits outweigh the conflict with the councils policy that out of city centre sites will only be considered if there are no suitable sites in, or on the edge of, the city centre.

Parcel delivery nightmare stories

Plans submitted by Newton Abbot Racecourse for a new owners and trainers lounge as part of their ambitions to compete as the number one Summer Jump Racecourse in the UK have been given the go-ahead.

The racecourse had said that they were coming under continued pressure to provide larger facilities for racehorse owners and their trainers at the course in Newton Road, Kingsteignton.

A 3D visualization of the new owners and trainers lounge at Newton Abbot Racecourse from the Course Enclosure side (Picture by Workshop Architecture and Design)

One letter of support to the application that was submitted to Teignbridge District Council by a racehorse owner had said that the facility is desperately needed by Newton Abbot as the facilities for owners and trainers is by far the worst that they have encountered.